The Government of Ghana says about 1,000 more Ghanaian nationals will begin returning home from South Africa on Sunday and Monday as renewed xenophobic violence against migrants continues to force thousands of foreigners to flee the country.
The latest operation marks the final phase of Ghana’s assisted evacuation programme, with special flights expected to bring home registered nationals who volunteered to return.
The announcement follows the successful evacuation of 926 Ghanaians in earlier phases of the government’s emergency response.
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According to Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the first group of evacuees will arrive in Accra on Sunday, with another batch expected on Monday.
President John Dramani Mahama has called on the African Union to place xenophobic attacks in South Africa on its agenda, arguing that stronger continental action is needed to protect African migrants.
The latest evacuation comes amid reports that more than 160,000 foreign nationals have left South Africa over the past two months as anti-migrant hostility intensified.
Those returning include citizens of Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho and Uganda.
South African authorities have confirmed fatalities linked to the unrest, while several African governments have reported higher death tolls among their nationals.
The protests have been driven largely by vigilante groups accusing undocumented migrants of taking jobs and contributing to crime, although analysts say migrants are increasingly being blamed for broader economic and governance challenges.
The crisis has also heightened diplomatic tensions, with Ghana postponing a planned visit by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and joining Nigeria in calling for the issue to be discussed at the next African Union summit.
